Building construction



Jan. 26, 1932. L. H. MILLER 1,842,795 BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed sept. 5 1929 INVENTOR ATTO RN EYJ Patented Jan. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES ,Lam -marw LEE H. MILLER, OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Original' application filed January 21, 1929, Serial No. 333,812. Divided and this application filed September This invention relates to ceiling means for floor structures of the class thereof including flanged structural steel beams, and more particularly the invention comprisesblocls adapted to interlock with the beam iianges and witheach other, whereby substantially.

` which may thus form air spaces beneath the floor plates and between the beams and at the same time present a nice appearance from beneath 'the floor. 1

` The object of this invention is to provide 25 such a ceiling means of the utmost simplicity of design so that the same may vbe cheaply manufactured and even more cheaply installed, and yet the installation accomplish y its purpose in a manner at least as satisfactory as by any means heretofore employed.

The exact nature of the invention together with further objects and advantages thereof will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation showing details of a complete Hoor including an application of invention; Fig. 2 is a similar detail showing the manner in which the assembly of my ceilingblocks is made in the construction of the floor; Fig. 3 is a section as in the plane of line 3 3, Fig. 1, and also indicates by line 1--1 the plane of the section of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of details of another generally similar fioor constructi on.

With reference now to the drawings and more particularly to the construction indicated Figs. 1-3, the main girders are indicated at 1. They are in the form of I beams extending from column to column along the Serial No. 390,594.

walls, so that the main frame of the building, including all columns and these girders, can be erected or assembled by riveting or other operations in the customary manner. The spaces between opposite girders are bridged or spanned by junior or subsidiary beams 2, preferably of I section as indicated.

In the form shown in the iigures these beams are placed on top of the girders 1 and may extend continuously across the same or terminate at the girders according to the lengths of the span. Upon the beams 2 are laid a series of steel plates 3, which are of proper width according to the spacing between beams so that the plates may be welded to each other and to the beams to form a substantially integral structure. The top of the.

floor may be nicely finished o-if in the usual manner byV a layer of surfacing 4 such as of cement.

According to my invention I take advantage of the lower flanges of the beams 2 for attaching my novel form of ceiling means. This ceiling means is preferably of fire proof material such as gypsum or like lithic product, and as has already been stated is in thc form of blocks adapted to interlock with each other and with the beam flanges.

. With reference now to Figs. 1 and 2 each block is designated generally by the reference character 5 and comprises three principal parts. O n one end of the typical block shown in Fig. 2 is a hook member 6 formed with its return bend above the intermediate or stretcher portion 7 of the block, and forming a notch 8 adapted to receive the flange 9 of the beam 2. Upon the opposite end of the block is a lip member 10 outwardly extending and spaced somewhat from the plane of the intermediate block portion 7 having an upstanding connecting portion 11 for the purpose. The proportions of the lip member and of its connecting portion 11 are such that the lip member 10 may overlie the hook member 6 of an adjacent block-which has its hook member 6 engaging the flange 9 of beam 2, as indicated Fig. l-to support its end of its block with the lower faces 12 of the adjacent .blocks in the same plane.

such that the blocks maybe'assembled' suc#Y cessively from left to right Figs. 1 and 2,

each block beingadded to the assemblyJ-inz the manner indicated Fig. 2 by inserting its lip portion 10 above the-hook portionfofthe last assembled block, swinging its hook portion G upwardto the limitof the adjacent beam 2. and sliding. the block to the lett Figs. 1A and2, to engage its hook portionwitli.

the'beam fiange 9. As indicated the proportions of the lower. portions of the blocks andv particularly the faces 12. are such that when the assembly is made as describedthe lowerv block snrfacesgwill combine to form a substantially uninterrupted. ceiling..

factory appearance although a finishing: coat 13 of plaster mayv be added if desired. It: will be noted that the joint between blocksincludes verticalV as Wellv as horizontal? stretches so thatif the blocks are accurately made ay veryY effective. heat-resistant Seal isV The first block. 5ft-in the assembly hasnoY lip portion. and may be embedded in the concrete ofY the wall 14- as indicated. Fig.. 1,

or may obviously be cut. short thereof and itsv cut-off endbe supported by other means.. At the other end of the ceilingit. is necessaryy to provide only meansV for supporting. the

fariend of the last block and means forpre-V ventinlgmovement of the bloclsto the right;v Fig. 1. Thismay be accomplished by any.

convenient arrangement such.- as thatv indicated Fig.. S'wherein hollow tiles lrarran'gedZ to-lit within the channels of the girdersl are shown as forming supporting. means as well as. abutments against longitudinaly motion* of the blocks.

In the showing ot Fig;4 isindicated awall of brick constructionain place of theconcrete indicated in Fig, 1.k As to the fioor itselh.

however, Fig.V 4 merely makes more clear what has already been described.

It will be noted Figs. 1 and @that when the assembly is complete the typical ointbetween. blocks comes to one side` ofthe-Hoor beam and includes a bend having verticalv and horizontal portions. Thus heat penetrating' the ceilingby following the joint could` reach the beam only by tortuous path. It will also be noticed that: that sidey of thebeam on which= the corresponding joint is locatediis protected by the relatively large massiof ceiling'mat'e-- rialwhich comprises the hook. andr lip'pore j l If thex faces 12. ofv the blocks are finished, therefore, the ceilingY thus formed may present asatisf tions of the corresponding blocks; whereas the opposite side of the beam is protected by a long integral block stretch, entirely unbroken by any joint. In fact, for each beam one flange is substantially surrounded by the lire-proof block material whereas the other flancreisremote from the nearestzceilngj oint.

Vifliat I claim is 1. Ceiling means for floor structures of the classthereef including spaced flanged beams, said ceiling means comprising a block .fonengagement between a pair of said beams to form a ceiling therebetween, and having on one sideareturn bendhoek' memberadapted to-engage-the far flange of one of said beams, and having on.its opposite side an outstandinglip member adapted'to rest'upon the hook` member of a similar block engaging, the near flange l.of the other beam.

2. Ceiling means for floor structures of the class including spaced structural steel beams each beam having a flange, said'ceiling.v

means. comprising:interlocking blocks each having ai hook. portmnengagingtlie. flange.

of' one beam and aili'p. portionfoverlyingthe' hook'iportion ofthe nextblock, and leach bleek.

having an intermediater ceilingA pbrtonv exftendingiinmediately beneaththe correspond? ingbeam. y

Ceilingmeans forfioor. structures ofthe class thereof including parallelbeams flanged;

inthe.same,directionrsaidloeilng,meansconprising a. blockfor. arrangementbetween. a: pair of. beams. and havingv at one-y edge` a .return-bendt hook. member.v adapted to. engage the. corresponding beamby the flange thereof.

extending away from said block, and.. having at the opposite edge a lip member adapted. tol overlie theY hook-.'memberof asimilar block engaging-.the secondbeam by the fiange there.-

of extending toward-said first named block.L

In testimony whereof I hereby aix, my

signature.

` LEE. H. MILLER. 

